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Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida Announces 2025 Rising Stars
The Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida (ASEMFL) announces the 2025 list of Rising Stars. A distinguished panel of scientists, engineers, and medical professionals, led by Drs. Angela Laird (Florida International University) and Norma Alcantar (University of South Florida), reviewed nominations from an impressive list of 168 scholars and industry professionals. Nominees were evaluated based on their contributions to science, engineering, or medicine, as well as their impact on their respective fields. Twenty-two finalists were selected and will be recognized at the ASEMFL annual meeting, which will take place November 7 and 8 at the University of Central Florida’s Rosen College of Hospitality Management in Orlando.
The Rising Stars program of the Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine of Florida (ASEMFL) recognizes early-career faculty at the Assistant Professor Level in academia or junior-to-mid-level professionals (less than 15 years in initial independent position) in industry, non-academia non-profit, or government, who work and/or live in Florida and whose innovation and scholarly achievements demonstrate exceptional promise in addressing critical scientific, engineering, and/or medical challenges.
“We are proud to recognize these Florida scholars for their early career innovations, accomplishments, and significant impacts in sciences, engineering and medicine,” said Hortensia Amaro (NAM), ASEMFL President. “We look forward to hearing them speak at the ASEMFL annual meeting, which offers valuable networking opportunities between Rising Stars and members of ASEMFL and the National Academies.”
“The competition was intense, and we are delighted to see so many outstanding nominees from Florida in this program. We only wish we could have selected all to present,” said Norma Alcantar (USF), co-chair of the Rising Stars Program.
The 2025 Rising Stars include:
SCIENCE
Assistant Professor
Florida International University
Citation: For pioneering research in bridging the gap between computing sciences (learning and optimization) and cyber-physical critical infrastructures security and resilience.
Assistant Professor
University of Miami
Citation: For the discovery of fundamental pathways and regulatory mechanisms governing mitochondrial gene expression and cellular respiratory metabolism.
Assistant Professor
University of Florida
Citation: For pioneering AI-driven solutions to advancing genetic gains of plant cultivars for ensuring current and future food and energy demands.
Assistant Professor
University of Florida
Citation: For groundbreaking investigations into the drivers of mass extinction events and the characteristics of Earth’s ancient magnetic field behavior.
Assistant Professor
University of Miami
Citation: For pioneering novel polymeric structures for targeted drug delivery.
ENGINEERING
Assistant Professor
Florida A&M University-Florida State University
Citation: For fundamental innovative contributions to multi-scale understanding of compound environmental hazards and their impacts on water pollution and human health.
Assistant Professor
Florida A&M University-Florida State University
Citation: For the development of small-scale biologically-inspired colloidal robots for probing low Reynolds number propulsion and biomedical applications.
Assistant Professor
University of Central Florida
Citation: For pioneering contributions to topological photonics, laser resonators, and structured light.
Automation and Robotic Systems Engineer
NASA
Citation: For research on autonomous lunar excavation to support a sustained human presence on the Moon and beyond.
Assistant Professor
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Citation: For advancing Children’s Heart Foundation–funded, machine‑learning‑driven in‑vitro Fontan platforms delivering rapid, patient‑specific surgical optimization for complex single‑ventricle congenital heart disease.
Assistant Professor
Florida International University
Citation: For pioneering innovative solutions for flood- and pollution-resilient urban and coastal systems using green stormwater infrastructure and AI.
Assistant Professor
University of Florida
Citation: For contributions to scientific computing, mathematical modeling, and applied category theory.
Assistant Professor
University of South Florida
Citation: For pioneering Translational tissue engineering research that advances biofabrication and tissue-mimetic biomaterials and redefines regenerative design principles for soft and cardiovascular tissues.
Assistant Professor
University of Central Florida
Citation: For pioneering advancements to the engineering of user interfaces and for impactful contributions to software engineering automation.
Assistant Professor
University of Florida
Citation: For pioneering research into intelligent structures that turn flexibility into function, enabling autonomous adaptation to flow environments.
Assistant Professor
University of Florida
Citation: For pioneering a research program that is transforming the understanding of how human-associated microbes remodel the extracellular matrix (ECM) to drive disease.
Systems Engineer Staff
Lockheed Martin
Citation: For engineering with a unique blend of technical and leadership expertise driving innovation and efficiency.
Systems Engineer, Senior
Lockheed Martin
Citation: For advancing wearable device technology with accurate orientation tracking for various applications and environments.
MEDICINE
Associate Professor
University of Miami
Citation: For contributions as a national leader in HIV, substance use, and implementation science, transforming his lab into a hub for community-driven, team-based innovation.
Assistant Professor
University of South Florida
Citation: For leading translational research on sleep, cognition, and aging, advancing sex-specific and behavioral intervention approaches to neurodegeneration risk and brain health.
Assistant Professor
University of Miami
Citation: For optimizing patient-centered care and developing and testing tailored, empirically supported interventions to improve quality of life and health across the cancer continuum.
Assistant Professor
University of Florida
Citation: For developing innovative respiratory evaluation and rehabilitation approaches to preserve independent breathing in vulnerable patient populations.
Rising Stars will give rapid-fire presentations on their impactful contribution at the ASEMFL annual meeting in Orlando. For more information about the annual meeting, please visit: https://www.asemfl.org/asemfl-2025-meeting/.
About ASEMFL
ASEMFL is a not-for-profit organization of top scholars and researchers from universities, public agencies and industries statewide. The purpose of this organization is (a) to employ scientific advances to inform the Florida community of current and future challenges that face our global society, and in particular the State of Florida, and engage in discussions of how these challenges can be addressed, (b) to undertake studies, or contracts on its behalf, that are of interest to the State of Florida, (c) to bring to the national and international forefront the state-of-the-art research and education conducted in Florida’s universities, industries and other educational corporations, (d) to recognize the work of individuals in the State of Florida who have made major achievements in science, engineering, and medicine, (e) to undertake studies on issues in science, engineering and medicine that should be of concern to the people in the state of Florida and provide unbiased, expert advice related to these issues, (f) to attract into the State of Florida individuals with impactful scientific accomplishments who have attained national and international recognition, (g) to enhance collaborations and partnerships of individuals and organizations in the State of Florida who have common research and educational pursuits, thus breaking geographical barriers for the benefit of the State, the nation, and the global community, and (h) to inspire the involvement and guide the direction of the future generations in science, engineering, and medicine.
For media inquiries or news outreach, please contact Sandie Beauchamp at sandra.beauchamp@ucf.edu.